Pal Joey
A review by Patrick Shannon, III
There's not much more that can be said about so nearly perfect
the two production I will comment upon this time: Pal Joey our
Tulane University First production of the Summer Lyric Series and
our own Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre's Cabaret.
Pal Joey, the Rogers, Hart and O'Hara classic Broadway musical
was quite simply magnificent. It was one of the most polished
productions of the history of Summer Lyric Theatre since Bryon
Michael Howard has been the Artistic Director/Director serving
this highly praised organization. Mr. Howard's direction was
faultless. I was awed by the overall and the everything of this
complicated show as it played smooth as silk in every moment on
stage.
Musical Director C. Leonard Rayon did magic with the orchestra.
It had a full and centered sound, the sound of what a 90 piece
orchestra would be like from the pit of New York's Winter Garden
Theatre.
The choreography by Edmond Kresley once again demonstrated his
years of hard work and much talent and terpsichorean wit and
energy. The dancers were awesome and beautiful to watch. How do
they learn so much in so short a rehearsal time?
Ah, and those sets by Rick Paul!. Beautiful! Also, witty, well
constructed and a perfect fit for Mr. Howard's directorial
vision.
Linda & Don Guilliot's wigs were right on the 1950's haute
couture level. And Charlotte Lang's costumes looked like they had
been found in perfect condition from a shop that had packed away
all its 1950t haute couture for safe keeping and given to Ms.
Lang. We know however that they were pure Charlotte Lang; solid,
well researched, complimentary in color and helped make this show
a pure gold event.
I've spoken about the tech workers and artists because one of the
visual attractions of this show was the totally 1957ish look.
Not a detail in visual design, stage mannerisms, acting styles,
and all the other works that make for a total production were
off. I was amazed.
The performers were of course, top of the line and their singing
was perfect for the role of each character. The great dancer Ian
Carney acted with great credibility as Joey Evans and his dancing
was graceful masculinity without a single "off step." Elizabeth
Argus was the Vera Simpson of this decade. She was sophisticated
and beautiful and acted with such delicate and highly polished
technique I felt like I was snooping through some window at a
real life adventure. She was a very memorable Vera Simpson.
Robert Pavlovich was ideal and created a seamless character in
the role of Mike Spears. Katie Howe as Linda English was totally
believable and likable and Kelly Fouchi gave us one of her all
time unforgettable performances as the character Gladys Bumps.
Ken Goode as Ludlow Lowell was a perfect fit professionally with
the rest of this irresistible, so talented, vocally wonderful
cast of a really good New York City no-nonsense professional
production of Pal Joey.
What a shame it couldn't play longer, and what a shame that that
psychologically walled in university must continue to be ruled by
that medieval very private coven of Les Precieuses Ridicules
members who rule Tulane University's Theater and Dance
Department. The simply can't be more open to the common public
rather than just the invited, the students, friends, staff and
the alumni.